Best Carry-on list for a mom traveling with a newborn to 6 month olds

Honestly, this was my favorite time to fly with my little dude. He didn’t require much. This is usually when parents develop the bad habit of over-packing, over worrying, and stressing out. First and foremost, breathe. This is just a flight. You are not packing to go on an expedition so far away remote land, and if you are breathe. This is the list of what I recommend you pack in the personal item bag. This packing list is made to put you at ease and make the trip comfortable for both you and your little one. I am also writing this from the perspective of a solo traveler, so you alone can do this! If you have a partner there to help you cool, but remember, you are the captain of the ship, so all decisions should fall to you. Here’s what I recommend you pack. I’ll do basic, intermediate, and plus packing lists.

For you:

Yes, for you. You’re so focused on the baby the first things that you need to pack are for you, because you are important.

- 1-2 extra tops: 1 extra top if the flight is under 6 hours; 2 if it is over 6 hours. Why? Because babies are gross and want to use you as their personal towel. Be it breast milk, spit up, poop (yes this happens), or you accidentally spill your drink on yourself, you need a fresh top.

-Headphones: Yes, you need a pair to watch the shows, or podcasts you downloaded on your phone, or to watch the in-flight entertainment. Also, to put on to calm your nerves from hearing every single sound, or conversation on the plane. These are a must. Also, if you have Bluetooth headphones, you can purchase the adapter for less then 30 bucks online to plug in so you don’t have to use or buy the crappy ones from the airlines.

-Snacks: You need some snacks to munch on (especially if your kiddo is under 6 months). Be it you’re a breast-feeding mama and need those calories, or get hangry without your snack, don’t forget to pack something for you to eat.

-A zip hoodie, or button-down sweater. Planes get cold. If you have a lap infant, you will be a mix of hella hot in the middle and have freezing cold arms. Having something that opens is very necessary.

-A great carry-on personal bag to put the basics in. This can be a diaper bag, a backpack, or a bag with shelves and different compartments. You need a bag that will fit under the seat in front of you that will hold all of the things you need at the ready. Your wallet, travel documents, keys, etc., should be in a secret or back compartment so they won’t fall out and get lost. You’re going to be opening and closing the bag a lot. If it has dividers that’s great, so you can split it up into things you need, and things baby needs in separate areas.

-Chapstick, and hand cream. Your lips will become very dry, like you’re walking in a desert. Your hands too. Having these two things will keep you from licking your lips and having dry cracked hands.

-A wrist wallet. Great to put your cards and ID’s in so you aren’t digging through a wallet when ordering s drink for yourself.

Now that you are situated let’s move on to the baby.

BABY PACKING LIST BASIC:

-A fanny pack. Yes, a fanny pack. In the fanny pack, you will put in :

o   2-3 diapers, wipes, and a long-sleeved onesie. If you use diaper cream, that as well, along with a dog wee-wee pad and poo bags to put the dirty diapers in. This you can use in place of a changing pad.  (the fanny pack will go into your carry-on on the baby’s side).

o   In the event of a diaper change, all you have to do is grab the fanny pack and take it into the tiny bathroom to change the baby. This saves you from digging around looking for the individual items, as well as lugging a big diaper bag into that tiny airport bathroom where space is at a premium.

-Bottles. For a short flight (under 6 hours) 3 bottles if you are not breastfeeding. If you are breastfeeding cool, more space in your bag! For pumping mama’s invest in the Momcozy 22oz Portable Breast Milk Cooler for your pumped breast milk. For the formula mama’s you have 3 options. For longer flights (8+), 3 bottles as well, along with a Ziplock with cut sponges with a little bit if dish detergent on it. Ask the flight attendant for a bottle or two of water, when you go to change the baby, take an empty bottle with you, drop the sponge in, add water, shake it up, and rinse it out. For formula mama’s on long haul flights, premeasure formula into little Ziplock baggies to add to the bottles as needed.

o   Pre-mix a bottle or two so they are ready to go. Good for flights under 4hrs. The plane is cold, the bottle will be fine.

o   Pre-measure formula into the bottles and ask the flight attendant for water to mix in with it.

o   Buy shelf stable formula, walk with 1-2 of them in the bag and pour the formula into the bottle on the plane, or right before boarding.

-Clothes. Okay, hear me out. Dress the baby in layers. It is a lot easier to take off than to put on. Long sleeve onesie, long sleeve shirt, sweater, leggings, socks. No footed onesie pajamas! Too much work to take off and put on, especially if there was a blowout. But in the bag, pack 2 extra tops, an extra pair of pants, and an extra pair of socks.

-Toys. Well, this depends. From 0-4months they will sleep most of the time, or stare at your face. So no need to bring stuff. A simple game of peek-a-boo is very efficient. 5-8 months window suction spinner toys, and looking out the window should do the trick. 6-12 months their 2nd favorite toy, or a brand new toy they have not seen before. Also, this would be the time for screen time if you do screen time. Dancing fruit by Hey Bear Sensory on YouTube keep my little dude engaged for an hour. I just downloaded it before flying. But they will be more interested in snacks. So bring Cheerios. Wipe down the tray table well, and turn it into a fine motor game of picking up Cheerios. Fruit pouches are also great. Over 6 months old snacks over toys.

BABY PACKING LIST INTERMEDIATE:

Everything in basic plus, plus the following. I recommend this for longer flights or if you have a long layover somewhere.

-A boppy, or travel pillow. This is a must. You will get tired of holding your little one for long flights. With the boppy you can put it in your lap and plop the baby right in the middle. This is also great for feeding, tummy time, and sleeping. Be sure to have the waterproof pillowcase on it before the regular one and keep the carry bag to put it in. If you can buy an additional pillowcase to pack in your luggage for when you arrive at your destination to change the pillowcase, because, well, planes are dirty.

-A muslin blanket. This is pretty self-explanatory. Can be used to swaddle the baby so they fly like a little burrito after takeoff. Especially if they are used to sleeping like so. Keep them as happy as possible. For breastfeeding mama’s if you want to cover up, that works as well.

-Extra dog wee pads or a changing pad. You will make several trips to the bathroom on a longer flight; you can go the disposable route when traveling and have the changing pad packed or use your changing pad.

-Pajamas. If it is a long flight, put them in their pajamas when it is their “bedtime”. Keep the routine. If you can do a 2-piece set. It is easier to change them then the full zipped footed pajamas.

-2 extra sets of clothes. You may need to change their outfits several times on the plane for flights that are over 10 hours, or during a long layover. You don’t want to bring down your large carry-on to dig through to find clothes mid-flight.

BABY PACKING LIST PLUS

This is extra, and totally not necessary. But if you want to bring you can. Everything mentioned in the two lists above, plus the following:

-A blow up footrest. Depending on the airlines, check with them to see if they allow it. This is an option only if you bought a seat for the baby and the airlines allow it.

-Noise canceling headphones. Some little one’s are noise sensitive and might require a pair. Please, please, please, test them out on your baby before the flight. They might not like them.

-Post-it notes, or Tape. Some little ones like to peel and stick stuff, some don’t. I’ve seen parents do a whole set up and the baby was interested. Other’s the baby just fell asleep.

-Health & Emergency Extras. You know your kid. So if they are teething please pack Infant pain reliever/fever reducer, teething gel or teething toys for them. Saline spray for dry airplane air. But they might fight getting sprayed making for an unhappy baby.

Final Thoughts

You know your kiddo. You want to make this as comfortable, and low effort as possible. Think of what your baby does for that stretch of time normally, and pack like that. This is just a flight. Or this is just a travel day. Please remember, wherever your final destination is, they have kids. So, don’t over pack. You are just packing what your baby needs for a few hours. Not days. If they go through 2 diapers an hour, adjust and add more diapers. If they are really busy and up during a certain time of day, choose a flight time when they are more mellow and sleepy or be prepared to entertain them. You can do this! You will do this, and when you did, you will see that they don’t really need much at that age. Happy flying mama!